Tension compensating control device



June 30, 1964 J,WARW1CK ETAL 3,139,243

TENSION COMPENSATING CONTROL DEVICE Filed Oct. 11, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet llNVENTORs nu WARWICK ERT TTORNEY June 30, 1964 J. WARWICK ETAL TENSIONCOMPENSATING CONTROL DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 11, 1962 m M K YO E 4 E .ll li 2 mm M Q N u m MIH L lmy T EM .il 4 m ..\-Fs l l UnitedStates Patent 3,139,243 TENION C(BMPENSATING CONTRQL DEVICE JohnWarwick, Livingston, and Erwin L. Herbert, Elizabeth, 'N.J., assignorsto (Icmpensation Tension Controls, Inc., Livingston, N.J., a corporationof New Jersey Filed Oct. 11, 1962, Ser.'No. 229,789 8 Claims. (Cl.242-1562) The present invention relates to an improved tensioncompensating control deviceparticularly adapted for use in conjunctionwith machines for winding yarn and the like.

At present, various structures such as pipes and receptacles areproduced by winding resin impregnated yarn such as fiber glass on a formand curing the winding to provide a high strength for weight ratiolaminate. Such windings generally are applied to the form under heavytension measured in pounds. It has been found that such tension shouldbe of a known constant and uniform value throughout the winding of suchstructures or for any given period of a winding program.

While in the past, presently available devices have been developed foraccurately maintaining yarns under light tension measured in gramsduring the winding of the yarn, such devices are incapable of applyingheavy tension by reason of the nature of their construction'andarrangement. Thus at present, no satisfactory devices for accuratelymaintaining the desired heavy tension in yarn being Wound heretoforehave been available.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a tensioncompensating control deviceffor supplying yam from a yarn package at asubstantially uniform tension of a value measured in pounds.

Another object is to provide such a device which will supply yarn atsuch substantially uniform tension even if the input tension of the yarnvaries over a wide range.

Another object is to provide such a device wherein the yarn isdelivered'from the package and is suppliedby the device in a manner tominimize variations in input tension whereby hunting of the device isminimized.

Another object is to provide such a device which. can handle yarnvarying in cross-section over a wide range.

Another object is to provide such a device which can be accuratelyadjusted over its operating range of tensions.

Another object is to provide such a device which will not be damaged bythe yarn or will damage the yarn.

A further objectis to'accomplish the foregoing in a simple, practicaland economical manner.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon anunderstanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, orwill be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages notreferred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employmentof the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has be n chosen for purposes ofillustration and description, and is shown in the accompanying drawing,forming a part of the specification, wherein: V v

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a device in accordance with thepresent-inventionincluding a brake, section and a control section.

FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken through the brake section. t

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken through the control section.

Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings in detail, there A is shown atension compensation control device which generally comprises a base 10,a brake section 11 on the base and a control section 12 on the baseadjacent the brake section.

As shown in FIG. 2, the brake section 11 includes a 3,139,243 PatentedJune 36, 1964 shaft or spindle 14 journalled for rotation on the base atits inner end by ball bearings (not shown), means 15 on the spindle forremovably mounting a yarn package YP (FIG. 1), a brake drum 16'mountedon the spindle near its inner end and secured thereto for rotationtherewith, a brake band 17 on the brake drum, and a spring and leversystem 18 for operating the brake band about to be described.

The spring and lever system 18 comprises an extendable spring 19 whichhas a first end 20 mounted on the base in the manner describedhereinafter and has a second end 21 secured to one end of the brake band17, and lever means 22 pivotally mounted on the base at 24 and includinga lever 25 having its free end secured to the other end of the brakeband at 26 and a pulley 27 secured to the lever 25 for rocking the sameandhaving a control cable 28 wrapped thereon with one end of the cablesecured thereto. The cable 28 is controlled by the control having afirst arm 31 to which the end 20 of spring is connected and having asecond arm 32 provided with a pin 34, a spring 35 somewhat stronger thanthe spring 19 having one end fixed to the base at 36 and having itsother end connected to the pin 34, and a stop 37 on the base adapted tobe engaged by the pin 34 under the in- V fluence of the spring 35. Inthis manner when'a sudden pull is exerted on the brake band, the spring19 yields but also exerts a force on the lever 29 to rock it in acounterclockwise direction as viewed in opposition to the spring 35which now yields to establish a predetermined maxiwhich remainsunimpaired.

mum force tending to pull the brake hand against the brake drum.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the control section 12 includes adiamondashaped control member 38 mounted for rotation on the base aboutan axis "parallel to the axis of the spindle 14, capstan means 39 on thecontrol member at the center thereof forwinding up the cable 28 thereonupon rotation of the control member in one direction and to let off thecable upon rotation of the control member in the opposite direction, apair of diametrically opposite yarn guide means 49 on the major axis ofequidistantly therefrom for rotatably mounting yarn guide membersthereon such as elongate rollers 44 having a length about equal to thelength of the yarn package YP on the spindle 14. Such rollers enable theyarn Y to ride up and down thereon and follow the point on the surfaceof the yarn package where the yarn is being taken off at anyparticularmoment.

Also, by reason of the fact that the yarn runs along the length of theserollers, the yarn does not erode the surface of therollers in the mannerin which guide eyes are eroded by constant contact of running yarn at. asmall area thereof. the yarn because they have a smooth curved surfaceFurthermore, such rollers can accommodate yarn or bundles of yarnvarying in cross-section over a wide range without introducing factorswhich affect the accuracy of the device.

In order to reduce friction or drag on the yarn as it Likewise," therollers 44 do not damage 3 runs through the control section, the rollers44 are mounted on the spindle means 42 by bearings 45 and the yarn isarranged in a Z-like path so that it engages each roller 44 for onlyabout one third of the periphery thereof whereby the control memberreadily and uniformly responds to the demand for yarn.

The spring 41 has one end connected to the control member at 45 and hasits other end connected to a casing 47 at 48 which is adapted to beturned with respect to the base to adjust the force of the spring 41 andis held in its adjusted position by releasable means 49 secured to thebase.

Preferably, the control member 38 is secured to one end of a shaft 50rotatably mounted in a bearing 51 on the base, and a damper 52 isconnected to the other end of the shaft 50 for preventing oscillationand hunting of the control member. As shown in FIG. 3, the dampercomprises a plate 54 rotatably disposed in a conventional dampingmedium.

In order to limit rotative movement of the control member 38 under theinfluence of the spring 41, a bumper 55 adapted to be engaged by thecontrol member is mounted on the base between the control section andthe brake section. Preferably, the control member is arranged to turnback and forth through an arc of about ninety degrees while regulatingthe brake.

In a specific embodiment of the present invention, the device isconstructed and arranged to supply yarn at a uniform tension in therange of about to pounds. This is accomplished by a brake drum 16 havinga diameter of 7 inches, a control member 38 with the axes of rotation ofthe rollers 44 eight inches apart and the rollers having a two inchdiameter, a spring 41 for applying a force of between about A and 5pounds, and a pulley 27 and capstan means 39 having equal diameters.

The spring 35 exerts a force of about 9.5 pounds on the arm 32 of thelever 29 while its pin 34 engages the stop 37. When the brake band 17pulls the spring 19 to extend the same about A inch, a force of about9.5 pounds is exerted on the arm 31 of the lever 29. Should the latterforce tend to exceed 9.5 pounds the spring 35 will now yield. When thespring 35 is extended about inch a maximum pulling force of only about9.75 is exerted on the brake band 17 by the spring 35 through the lever29 and the spring 19.

The term yarn is used herein in a broad sense and is intended to includestrands, filaments, wires, threads, roving or the like formed ofvegetable, animal, metalliferous or synthetic materials or a mixturethereof.

While the present invention has been described in connection with adevice for tensioning yarn, such a device can also be utilized fortensioning strips or webs of material such as paper or cloth and thelike.

In view of the foregoing description, it will be seen that the presentinvention provides an improved device for the purpose indicated hereinwhich is simple, practical and economical in construction, reliable andaccurate in operation, and can withstand such rough usage to which itmay normally be subjected.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangementof the parts herein, without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to beunderstood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrativeand not in any limiting sense.

We claim:

1. In a tension compensating control device, the combination of aspindle for a package having material wound thereon and being mountedfor rotation, a brake drum mounted on said spindle and secured theretofor rotation therewith, a first extendable spring having a first end anda second end, a brake band on said brake drum having one end secured tothe second end of said spring, a pivotally mounted lever having a firstand second arm, said first end of said spring being connected to saidfirst arm, a second extendable spring having a fixed end and a secondend connected to said second arm of said lever, whereby an excessivepull exerted by said brake band on said first spring causes said leverto pivot in a direction to efiect yielding of said second spring and toestablish a predetermined maximum force applied by said brake band onsaid brake drum, a stop for limiting pivotal movement of said lever inthe opposite direction, lever means pivotally mounted adjacent saidbrake drum and having the other end of said brake band secured theretofor varying the braking action of said band on said drum, a controlmember mounted for rotation about an axis parallel to the axis of saidspindle, capstan means mounted for rotation with said control member atthe center thereof, a cable having one end secured to said lever meansand having its other end secured to and arranged'on said capstan meansto be wound up thereon upon rotation of said control member in onedirection, guide means for the material on said control member engagedby the material and arranged to effect rotation of said control memberin a direction to unwind said cable upon downstream pulling of thematerial and thereby allow said lever means to pivot in a direction tolessen the braking action of said band on said drum, and spring meansconnected to said control member for urging said control member torotate in the direction to cause said cable to be wound up on saidcapstan means whereby the braking action of said band on said drum isincreased.

2. In a device according to claim 1, including means for adjusting saidspring means.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein said guide means are elongatemembers parallel to the axis of rotation of said control member having alength about equal to the package on said spindle.

4. In a device according to claim 1, including a pair of diametricallyopposite spindle means on said control member parallel to the axis ofrotation of said control member and equidistantly spaced from saidcapstan means for rotatably mounting said guide means.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein said guide means are elongaterollers having a length about equal to the package on said spindle.

6. In a device according to claim 1, including damping means for saidcontrol member.

7. In a device according to claim 1, including a bumperv adapted to beengaged by said control member to limit 1rotation thereof in thedirection urged by said spring means to thereby limit the winding up ofsaid cable and the braking action of said brake band on said brake drum.8. A device according to claim 1, wherein said second spring iseffective to apply a greater force than said first mentioned spring.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,380,837 Replogle June 7, 1921 2,685,417 Bartelson Aug. 3, 19542,715,505 Atkins Aug. 16, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 7 230,593 Australia Oct.6, 1960 787,357 France July 1, 1935 407,937 Great Britain Mar. 26, 1934

1. IN A TENSION COMPENSATING CONTROL DEVICE, THE COMBINATION OF ASPINDLE FOR A PACKAGE HAVING MATERIAL WOUND THEREON AND BEING MOUNTEDFOR ROTATION, A BRAKE DRUM MOUNTED ON SAID SPINDLE AND SECURED THERETOFOR ROTATION THEREWITH, A FIRST EXTENDABLE SPRING HAVING A FIRST END ANDA SECOND END, A BRAKE BAND ON SAID BRAKE DRUM HAVING ONE END SECURED TOTHE SECOND END OF SAID SPRING, A PIVOTALLY MOUNTED LEVER HAVING A FIRSTAND SECOND ARM, SAID FIRST END OF SAID SPRING BEING CONNECTED TO SAIDFIRST ARM, A SECOND EXTENDABLE SPRING HAVING A FIXED END AND A SECONDEND CONNECTED TO SAID SECOND ARM OF SAID LEVER, WHEREBY AN EXCESSIVEPULL EXERTED BY SAID BRAKE BAND ON SAID FIRST SPRING CAUSES SAID LEVERTO PIVOT IN A DIRECTION TO EFFECT YIELDING OF SAID SECOND SPRING AND TOESTABLISH A PREDETERMINED MAXIMUM FORCE APPLIED BY SAID BRAKE BAND ONSAID BRAKE DRUM, A STOP FOR LIMITING PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID LEVER INTHE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, LEVER MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ADJACENT SAIDBRAKE DRUM AND HAVING THE OTHER END OF SAID BRAKE BAND SECURED THERETOFOR VARYING THE BRAKING ACTION OF SAID BAND ON SAID DRUM, A CONTROLMEMBER MOUNTED FOR ROTATION ABOUT AN AXIS PARALLEL TO THE AXIS OF SAIDSPINDLE, CAPSTAN MEANS MOUNTED FOR ROTATION WITH SAID CONTROL MEMBER ATTHE CENTER THEREOF, A CABLE HAVING ONE END SECURED TO SAID LEVER MEANSAND HAVING ITS OTHER END SECURED TO AND ARRANGED ON SAID CAPSTAN MEANSTO BE WOUND UP THEREON UPON ROTATION OF SAID CONTROL MEMBER IN ONEDIRECTION, GUIDE MEANS FOR THE MATERIAL ON SAID CONTROL MEMBER ENGAGEDBY THE MATERIAL AND ARRANGED TO EFFECT ROTATION OF SAID CONTROL MEMBERIN A DIRECTION TO UNWIND SAID CABLE UPON DOWNSTREAM PULLING OF THEMATERIAL AND THEREBY ALLOW SAID LEVER MEANS TO PIVOT IN A DIRECTION TOLESSEN THE BRAKING ACTION OF SAID BAND ON SAID DRUM, AND SPRING MEANSCONNECTED TO SAID CONTROL MEMBER FOR URGING SAID CONTROL MEMBER TOROTATE IN THE DIRECTION TO CAUSE SAID CABLE TO BE WOUND UP ON SAIDCAPSTAN MEANS WHEREBY THE BRAKING ACTION OF SAID BAND ON SAID DRUM ISINCREASED.